Director-General condemns murder of journalist Orlando Dinoy in the Philippines

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has denounced the killing of Philippines journalist Orlando Dinoy on 30 October in Bansalan, in the Philippine province of Davao del Sur, calling on the authorities to bring his killers to justice.

“I condemn the murder of Orlando Dinoy,” said the Director-General. “Journalists must be able to hold the powerful to account without fearing for their safety, which is why I call on the authorities to bring to trial those responsible for the murder of Orlando Dinoy. Free and independent reporting by the media brings an indispensable contribution to democracy.”

Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy was killed by an unidentified gunman who forced his way into his apartment and shot him multiple times. Dinoy, who covered local news, including crime, for the Newsline Philippines website and worked as a news anchor for Energy FM radio, is the second journalist killed in the Philippines since the start of 2021.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

• See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists
• Media contact: Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, g.godoi@unesco.org